Top 5 Tips For Preventing Stroke

When blood supply to a portion of brain is blocked a cerebrovascular accident or stroke occurs.

Stroke ranks third after heart attacks and cancer as a cause of death. 80% of strokes are preventable and key risk factors can be modified through either lifestyle changes or drugs.

Here are top 5 tips for preventing stroke:

Stroke Diagram (Photo credit: ConstructionDealMkting)

1. Quit Smoking: Smokers have twice the risk of stroke that non-smokers have. when they quit their risk drops 50% in 2 years. Within 5 years of quitting their risk is similar like non smokers.

2. Keep blood pressure under control: Treating hypertension with medication can lead to a 40% reduction in fatal and non fatal strokes.

3. Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet which reduces your risk of fatty buildup in blood vessels.

4. Avoid Obesity, which burdens the heart as well as the blood vessels.

5. Exercise: Moderate amounts of exercise improves circulation and may help dissolve deposits in the blood vessels that can lead to stroke.